John Prescott to host dinner with Richard Rogers and his urban taskforce on eve of Core Cities conference

Deputy prime Minister John Prescott is to host a dinner for Richard Rogers and his urban taskforce on the eve of the Core Cities conference on Thursday.

The invitation suggests that Rogers is being brought back into the policy debate over the government’s sustainable communities strategy. His taskforce had been central to formulating Labour’s policy towards the built environment in its first term. More recently, however, the government has been influenced by the American new urbanism movement.

Rogers has recently reconvened the taskforce to address concerns over the government’s housing growth areas. Members of the group have already met twice and further meetings are planned for September.

The taskforce comprises 13 of the most influential figures in the housing and regeneration world. Its members are Jon Rouse, Alan Cherry, Martin Crookston, Anne Power, Tony Burton, Phil Kirby, Sir Crispin Tickell, Ricky Burdett, Anthony Dunnett, Sir Peter Hall, Anthony Mayer, Wendy Thomson and Lorna Walker.

They are currently discussing how best to proceed, but members have said their main aim will be to keep a check on the government’s implementation of the recommendations in their final report in 1999.

Alan Cherry, chairman of Countryside Properties, said these meetings were just the beginning for the group. He said: “There is more to come. We will remind government of issues that are still important that have not been taken up, as well as draw attention to issues that have emerged since.”

Insiders have speculated that the timing of the dinner could be significant. David Miliband, minister for communities, is to deliver the keynote speech at the conference on Friday. Another senior minister, as yet unconfirmed, will give the closing address. Sources say the dinner could be a way for Prescott to win the backing of the group in advance of a major announcement.

The meeting comes as Rogers appears to be diverging from Prescott’s plan to build houses across the gateway. Last week he unveiled his vision for a city for 700,000 people in east London to avoid “piecemeal” regeneration in areas that lacked infrastructure.